Sunderland on-loan player Laurens De Bock makes Leeds United claim

Leeds United let the defender leave Elland Road on loan this summer for Sunderland but he has a battle to establish a first-team place at the Stadium of Light.

Leeds United loanee Laurens de Bock has admitted that the Whites have not been in contact much with him over the past few weeks as he seeks to hit form for Sunderland (Shields Gazette).

The 27-year-old left Elland Road on transfer deadline day this summer to link up with the Mackems on loan, having only made only seven appearances for the Whites since joining in January 2018 from Club Brugge, for whom he played more than 100 times and featured in Europe (BBC Sport).

However, De Bock has played just two League One games so far, with injury hampering his progress, and now finds himself stuck in limbo after Jack Ross, the coach who brought him to the stadium of Light, was replaced by Parkinson just weeks after the Belgian’s arrival.

After coming back from his injury, De Bock returned to action during the EFL Trophy clash with Leicester City in midweek, before claiming that Leeds failed to contact him during his time on the sidelines and admitting he’s now playing for himself, seemingly hinting that he hasn’t got much of a future at Elland Road.

“I haven’t had much contact in the last few weeks with Leeds,” De Bock, contracted to Elland Road until 2022 (Transfermarkt), is quoted by the Shields Gazette as saying. “So I’m just playing for myself now, and we will see.”

Denver Hume is currently impressing for Sunderland on the left side of defence, leaving De Bock with a fight on his hands if he is to establish a first-team place in the Black Cats squad.

Sunderland currently sit seventh in the League One table, a point outside the play-offs, but this weekend the focus shifts to the FA Cup as Gillingham come to the Stadium of Light.